The Kuwaiti Ministry of Information has continued its purge against software piracy, confiscating 38,000 compact disks loaded with counterfeit software from a reseller in Hawalli.

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Information has continued its purge against software piracy, confiscating 38,000 compact disks loaded with counterfeit software from a reseller in Hawalli.

“Kuwait’s authorities have been highly active in pursuing counterfeit software and this action merely re-emphasises the message that should already have been received loud and clear by vendors of illegal software,” said Jawad Al Redha, regional director of the Business Software Alliance (BSA).

“This haul is significant because of its size: even at nominal value per CD of software, this haul would be worth well in excess of a million dollars,” added Al Redha.

The Hawalli area has been a prime target in the piracy crackdown. Just last week a consultancy company in the area was raided and faces prosecution after it was found to have illegal software.

“I think that the message being sent by the Kuwait authorities is clear enough for anyone to understand. Counterfeit software is no longer a business with a future in Kuwait; it is illegal to duplicate, distribute, sell or use unlicensed software and anybody doing so faces the full weight of the law,” warned Al Redha.